The bill to legalize marijuana in Canada has passed 3rd Reading in the House and now moves to the Senate for final reading. On this basis, the bill will become law within the next 30-60 days. Legalization is set for July 1st, 2018. The Province of Quebec has twice asked for the implementation date to be postponed for a year and this request has been refused by PM Justin Trudeau who is of the mind that any failure or delay to deliver on this key campaign promise would be electoral suicide for the Liberal Party.

The bill gives each Province the right to regulate how/where legal pot can be sold. Under the proposed law, 30 grams is the maximum one can possess legally (or six plants if you want to grow your own).

One province (Nova Scotia) has chosen to give their own province-owned liquor store monopoly the right to retail pot in Nova Scotia. Ontario (largest province) has formally rejected that model and has opted to allow private retailers to apply for a license - Shoppers Drug Mart, the largest retail drug store in the country, has applied for one. However, in Ontario at least, it is expected that the established 'medical marijuana' clinics that are very popular and have been around for many years will likely be the largest retailers.